So, I am hoping that everyone had a wonderful holiday season, filled with family favorites; ham, turkey, some sort of potato, salad(s), egg noodles… Well, perhaps your Holiday dinners were different than mine, but boy did my family and I enjoy every bit of it. I’ve often wondered why we only "go all out" on holidays? I mean I know it tends to be a lot of work and what not, but really… wouldn’t it be awesome to eat as if it was a "holiday every day"? I’m sure you are split 50% – 50% on this one… right?
Okay okay… enough with the chit chat. Lets move on to what I really wanted to talk to you about today; OLIVES. I’m sure there are a number of things that come to mind when you think or say ‘Olives’, am I right? First there are so many different types… purple, green, black, stuffed with pimento, stuffed with cheese, with pits, without pits. Then we move on to the different packaging… cans, jars, “fresh” from the buffet at your local grocery store. Now the big thing that comes to mind… What does one do with these little oval shaped things? Well, here are my recommendations for what to do with olives.
1. Use them in an appetizer tray. Go to your grocery store and buy a large variety of Olives… I mean isn’t everyone tired of the same old, same old green olives & black olives in the “appetizer section”? Try spicing it up with the cheese stuffed olives, or the large Peruvian purple olives. These are different and for sure will grab your guests attention.
2. My husband being from Peru has so many different types of dishes. One of them being a rice with Peruvian purple olives. When you get the rice to a boil, add two large handful of these olives. My mother in law never took the pits out, however if you would rather not keep the pits in, feel free to just cut the meat off the pit and only add it instead. It turns the white rice purple, or course, but gives it a wonderful flavor. For this rice, make sure you season with a few pinches of salt.
3. Use olives as a salad topping. Now normally one sees the regular sliced black olive … people, don’t use the black olives. Get creative folks… try something new. Go for the craziest olive you can find, and slice it up or dice it up and throw it on the salad!
Well.. those a few of my ideas to get you started in the world of olives. I’d love to hear what you and the fam do with olives. Send me your recipes…
Photo By: Bethany L King
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January 8th, 2009 at 11:49 am
At Trader Joes, the olive tapenade spread, from the shelf (they also have refrigerated too but I haven’t tried that) is heaven in a jar! It has kalamata,black,and green olives and tastes great on their bagel chips. If you add a bit of goat cheese it’s kind of like a light meal. Lately, I’ve been subbing green olives for black olives on veggie pizzas when I order or just adding green olives to frozen pizzas at home. It’s a refreshing change.
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January 9th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
You know what I do with olives? Let everyone else eat ‘em. Blech. Olives are one food that I absolutely cannot stomach… or smell.
Happy New Year Eating Cleveland!
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January 10th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Olives are disgusting. They are my kryptonite! Put the olives back in the jar!
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